Maintaining a bright smile can be difficult because our tooth enamel is porous, which makes it susceptible to stains. Certain foods and beverages will discolour our teeth due to their colouring and/or level of acidity.
Acidy foods and drinks wear the enamel down and softens it so that it becomes even more vulnerable to staining. The colour in various beverages and some foods contain chromogens or pigmented molecules which stick to the enamel of our teeth.
If you would like to protect your smile from staining, it’s a good idea to avoid certain types of food and beverages that are most likely to stain your teeth, such as the following:
Coffee
As much as we love it, coffee is one of the most common causes of tooth discolouration. Thanks to its dark colour, which is high in chromogens, the acidic nature of our favourite morning drink will gradually turn your pearly whites yellow.
Tea
Surprisingly, tea is often considered to be even worse for your teeth than coffee. This is due to its tannins, which are plant-based compounds that easily adhere to teeth and causes staining. Unfortunately, switching to white tea won’t do you any favours, as this has also been proved to erode the enamel and stain teeth.
Red and White Wine
Both red and white wine can stain teeth. The deep red colour of red wine can stick to your teeth whilst white wine is even more acidic, causing additional decolouration to the teeth.
Sugary/Fizzy Drinks
Coloured fizzy drinks contain citric acids which will erode the enamel. On top of this, the heavy sugar content will also encourage tooth decay. Dark fruit juices such as cranberry juice can also stain teeth.
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and various dressings can leave stains on your teeth because of their darkened colours.
Berries
Dark coloured berries such as cranberries, blackberries and blueberries etc. may discolour your teeth as they can stick to the enamel of the tooth.
Pasta Sauce
Tomato sauces such as pasta sauce and ketchup can stain teeth because of their bright red hue and their intense acidity. You can help reduce the effect of tomato based sauces on your teeth by eating dark green veggies beforehand such as broccoli or lettuce.
Curry
The deep pigmentation of curry can cause your teeth to yellow over time. It’s a good idea to brush your teeth after consuming curry, or indeed any of the different kinds of food and beverages mentioned above.
What can I do to reduce Tooth Discolouration?
There are many things you can do to reduce the effects of staining foods on your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing will help, but for more permanent treatment, teeth whitening services are advised. Changing your diet doesn’t mean eliminating your favourite foods, you can continue to enjoy a cup of coffee but do so in moderation.
If you feel that your teeth are not as bright as you would like, you may want to consider having them whitened by your dentist.
Why Should I Have my Teeth Whitened?
At Docklands Dental, we use Colgate Max White Professional System, which has been proved to effectively remove tooth discolouration caused by food, beverages and even tobacco.
Teeth whitening services can eliminate any signs of staining on the teeth, and the best part is that you can do it yourself from the comfort of your own home.
Our teeth whitening kit has been clinically proven to whiten teeth efficiently and quickly. It is easy to use, taking only 30 minutes out of your day. With reduced sensitivity, the Colgate Max White Professional System leaves you with visibly whiter teeth in just 3 days!
What are you waiting for?
For a whiter, brighter smile today get in touch with Docklands Dental for the best teeth whitening services in Dublin:
Tel: +353 (0)1 636 0192
Email: hello [@] docklandsdental.ie
